An Australian Bureau of Statistics report released today shows that around 60% of Australia's 636 local government areas (LGAs) experienced some population increase in the year ended 30 June 1998. Australia's estimated resident population rose by 1.2% to 18,751,000 during the period.

Seventeen out of the 20 largest numerical population increases were in State capitals. Seven were in Sydney, five in Melbourne, three in Perth, and two in Brisbane.

The south-east of Queensland had Australia's two largest LGA increases: Brisbane City, the most populous Australian LGA, added 16,600 people (2%), while the Gold Coast grew by 11,200 or 3%.

The rest of the top 10 increases were in Casey (Melbourne) with 6,800 (4.4%); Liverpool in Sydney with 6,600 (5%); Blacktown, Sydney (4,400/1.8%); Sydney City, up 4,000 to 19,900, the fastest growth in Australia at 25.5%; Maroochy in Queensland (3,700/4.5%); Melton in Melbourne (3,600/8.3%); Joondalup in Perth (3,500/2.3%) with Caboolture in Queensland tenth, up 3,300 or 2.8%.

Marrickville (Sydney) had the largest decline nationally, losing 820 people or 1%, followed by Waverley, also in Sydney, down 730 people or 1.1%. The third largest decline was in Darwin City, down 480 people or 0.7%, although the larger Darwin Statistical Division experienced the fastest capital city population growth of 2.3%.

In Tasmania, Launceston declined by 370 people or 0.6% (fifth largest decline) and Clarence in Hobart declined by 250 or 0.5%, ranked ninth. Several other major declines were from regional mining areas such as the shires of Ashburton (fourth) and Coolgardie (eighth) in WA, and Broken Hill (sixth) and Cobar (seventh) in NSW.

Western Australia experienced the highest population growth rate in the year to June 1998 with 1.9%, followed by the Northern Territory and Queensland both with 1.7% each. Tasmania was the only State or Territory to record a population decline, losing 1,600 people (-0.3%) during the 12 months.

Details are in Regional Population Growth, Australia(cat. no. 3218.0) available from ABS bookshops. A summary of findings is available from this site.